NEWS RELEASE UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
ALMA, ON – The Upper Grand District School Board is pleased to share some exciting news about Alma Public School’s recent participation in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP).
In fall of 2023, four exceptional students from Alma PS, Lily C, William K, Myelle M, and Cohen P from Grade 5/6, embarked on a scientific journey with the goal of submitting experiment proposals to NASA’s SSEP. Their project aimed to investigate whether soil bacteria could biodegrade compostable plastic in microgravity. The underlying hypothesis was that if successful, this process could contribute to the degradation of food waste, providing essential soil nutrients for plant growth.
After rigorous rounds of experimental review involving Alma PS, Guelph Lake PS, Rickson Ridge PS, and Maryborough PS, it was announced that the experiment proposed by the talented students from Alma PS have been selected as the UGDSB’s submission for the SSEP. The decision-making process was undoubtedly challenging, given the stellar caliber of submissions from all participating schools.
Under the guidance of dedicated teachers Keri Hons and Sherri Woodland, the selected experiment is now set to be part of the International Space Station’s upcoming mission, scheduled for launch in the spring of 2024. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and scientific prowess demonstrated by Alma PS and all UGDSB schools involved.
The UGDSB would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Alma PS and express our appreciation to all participating schools for their outstanding efforts. This achievement reflects the commitment to excellence in education and scientific exploration in our school board.
We look forward to witnessing the continued success of Alma PS and its students as they take this incredible journey into space.
